Controversial incidents have been frequent features of men’s Cricket World Cups, with the latest incident seeing Angelo Mathews Time Out by Bangladesh. Here’s a run down of the other most controversial moments in the history of the tournament.

Courtney Walsh warns Saleem Jaffer – 1987

24-year-old fast bowler Courtney Walsh was tasked by captain Viv Richards with defending 14 runs in the final over against Pakistan’s last pair in a pivotal game at the 1987 World Cup. With the equation down to two runs from one ball, Walsh noticed that Saleem Jaffer at the non-striker’s end had been backing up too far on the previous delivery. Walsh ran in to bowl, but held the ball, and Jaffer began to run too soon. Walsh stopped, with Jaffer way out of his ground, and could have ran him out and won the game for his country. Instead Walsh stood there, with his arms folded, and didn’t move a muscle. The final delivery was sliced away for a boundary, and the West Indies were ultimately eliminated. However Walsh’s legacy as a fierce competitor who played within the game’s spirit was born.

Rain reduction farce gifts England victory – 1992

In the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup at the SCG, England and South Africa were playing out an absorbing contest that promised a thrilling conclusion. The Proteas required 22 runs from 13 balls to win. However, as rain began to fall, England captain, Graham Gooch, insisted on halting play. According to the competition’s regulations, any time lost due to weather would result in a reduction of overs, equal to the last productive overs for the side batting first.

South Africa suddenly found their target reduced to 21 runs from just a single delivery. The crowd, initially informed of the altered equation as 22 runs off 7 balls, erupted in frustration, expressing their displeasure by jeering and even littering the outfield with rubbish. As the true extent of the injustice became apparent, the crowd’s discontent escalated into boos. Adding to the controversy the competition rules had allowed for a reserve day, but the host broadcaster, Channel Nine, had insisted on concluding the match on the originally scheduled day.

Crowd violence leads to India being knocked out their own World Cup – 1996

In the 1996 Cricket World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India faced Sri Lanka and were favourites to secure a spot in the final. India’s bowlers limited Sri Lanka to 252, and made a strong start in the chase, reaching 98-1. But the momentum shifted when Sachin Tendulkar was stumped. A sudden collapse followed, and India slumped to 120-8. The previously jubilant crowd had now turned restless as frustrated fans, and they resorted to hurling projectiles and causing chaos.

Despite numerous attempts to calm the situation, the situation only escalated. Match referee Clive Lloyd ultimately abandoned the match, awarding it to Sri Lanka. The heartbreak was palpable, with Vinod Kambli, the last remaining India batter, leaving the field in tears, his dream of leading his country to a home final shattered. His tears mirrored the collective despair of a nation whose hopes had been snatched away.

Hansie Cronje wears a radio earpiece – 1999

During a critical 1999 Cricket World Cup match against India, South Africa captain, Hansie Cronje, found himself in a contentious situation when Sky TV footage revealed him wearing an earpiece which connected him to head coach Bob Woolmer. Cronje’s use of this device raised eyebrows and prompted officials to request that Cronje remove the device.

Woolmer, the mastermind behind this unconventional tactic, insisted on his innocence, asserting that it was intended to provide a more efficient means for coaches to communicate with players. Nonetheless, he had failed to secure the necessary permission from the ICC for the device, fueling suspicions that he sought to keep this strategy hidden and had engaged in cheating.

Farcical finish to the 2007 tournament

The 2007 Cricket World Cup was plagued by a series of controversies, from the tragic death of Bob Woolmer to poor attendance, one-sided matches, and negative publicity. Even the much-anticipated final, featuring the two strongest teams of the tournament, turned into a chaotic affair. As daylight waned over Bridgetown, Sri Lanka’s tail enders faced an impossible equation and accepted the umpire’s offer of bad light, sparking wild Australian celebrations.

Yet, the officiating crew then inexplicably suggested postponing the remaining three overs to the next day, despite the stipulation that a minimum of 20 overs had already been bowled, which constituted a complete match. After deliberations with the team captains, it was finally agreed to complete the match on the spot. Players returned to the field in darkness to play out the remaining three overs. Australia’s second celebration unfolded amidst farcical circumstances, while the International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed a humiliating punishment on all five match officials for their incompetence. They were suspended from officiating at the T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Tendulkar survives lbw on review – 2011

One billion viewers tuned in to witness the iconic Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final showdown between India and Pakistan in Mumbai. This monumental match was forever marked by a pivotal moment, igniting a firestorm of controversy and an enduring debate that lingers to this day. Tendulkar was trapped lbw on 23 by Saeed Ajmal. However, DRS projected that the ball would have missed the leg stump, saving Tendulkar. Umpire Ian Gould’s disbelief at the DRS technology was palpable, while Pakistan’s players and their fans were left in sheer astonishment. Tendulkar went on to compile a match-winning 85 runs, and India went on to lift the World Cup. The aftermath of this controversy saw a flurry of opinions and theories emerge. Some blamed a missed frame, others contended that the trajectory displayed was fundamentally flawed, but many argued the projection was correct.

Two coin tosses in the final – 2011

The deafening roar of the crowd preceding the 2011 Cricket World Cup final at Wankhede Stadium was so overwhelming that both MS Dhoni and match referee Jeff Crowe incapable of discerning Kumar Sangakkara’s ‘heads’ call at the coin toss. As a result, they were compelled to conduct a second coin toss, which Sangakkara won again. Regrettably for him, this twist of fate did not bring good fortune, as India successfully pursued Sri Lanka’s 274-run target to claim the championship. In hindsight, Sangakkara himself has admitted that he wishes he had been on the losing end of that pivotal coin toss, as India may have opted to bat first.

Ben Stokes’ bat deflection – 2011

The pulsating 2019 Cricket World Cup final at Lords reached a climax as England found themselves needing nine runs off three balls against New Zealand, with star batter Ben Stokes their final ray of hope. Stokes smashed a full-toss into the deep, and sprinted back for two to retain the strike. As he dived to reach the crease, fate intervened with a remarkable twist. The edge of Stokes’ bat inadvertently steered the ball past the wicketkeeper to the boundary. England were awarded six runs, and ultimately triumphed in a thrilling super-over finish.

Adding fuel to the controversy, former international umpire Simon Taufel asserted after the game that the on-field umpires had committed a “clear mistake” by awarding England six runs instead of the accurate tally of five. This discrepancy arose from the fact that the batters had not yet crossed for the second run when the ball was released by Guptill.

To bet on the World Cup with our Match Centre Partners bet365 head here.